COVID-19 Resources

Requesting Sick Leave Because of a Government-Issued Quarantine, Stay-at-Home, Shelter-in-Place, or Isolation Order

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides 2 weeks of paid leave to eligible employees who need leave because they are subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order, including shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders. This fillable formhelps employees who want to request leave and their employers by asking for the information required by law to grant leave requests. It is not legal or tax advice. Employees who want to request leave should complete the sections that apply to them and give the completed form to their employer

What's the law?

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Overview of Legal Rights for Sick Leave

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act applies only to private businesses that have fewer than 500 employees and to government agencies of all sizes.

An employee is eligible for 2 weeks of emergency paid sick time when they need leave because they are subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order, including stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders issued by government authorities that cause the employee to be unable to work (or telework).

During the time off, employers must pay the employee their regular rate of pay or the minimum wage that applies where they work, whichever is more. Employers are not required to pay more than $511 per day or $5,110 total. Employers may not require an employee to use sick days, vacation time, or other paid time off before taking two weeks of emergency paid sick time, or while taking the emergency paid sick time.

If an employer and employee agree, the employee may take part-time (“intermittent”) leave, so long as they are teleworking.

Employers receive tax credits to cover costs associated with providing paid leave. See the Internal Revenue Service for details.

For more information, view frequently asked questions and answers from the Department of Labor.

Who is left out of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act?

Emergency employer-paid leave and sick time is not available to all employees:

Employers may provide paid leave to healthcare providers and emergency responders, but they are not required to do

An employee is not eligible for paid leave if their employer does not have work for them to do during the time they need the leave (e.g., if their worksite is closed or they are furloughed). This means that an employee is not eligible for paid leave if the government-issued quarantine or isolation order causes the employer to not have work available for the employee. See below for options to collect state benefits when no work is available.

Employees who are not eligible or use up their paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act may be eligible for unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and/or other federal, state, and local laws. They may also be eligible to collect unemployment insurance, pandemic unemployment assistance, paid family leave, or other benefits from the state where they work.

Are you already off work without pay?

You may be eligible for state benefits like Unemployment Insurance or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. You can find out more by contacting your state’s unemployment office or going to its website.

Requesting Paid Time Off

Click the button below to complete a form that includes the key information you are required to provide your employer to receive paid sick leave because of a government-issued quarantine, stay-at-home, shelter-in-place, or isolation order.